Cristobal Huet's time with the Blackhawks appears to be nearing an end.
The veteran goaltender is in discussions with Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss League, but "nothing is 100 percent yet," according to Huet's agent Stephen Bartlett. "We've had discussions with (Gotteron), but nothing is finalized and there are a lot of hoops to go through and approvals that have to happen here, so at this point it's preliminary to say anything is done."
Huet, who was the Hawks' starting goaltender for part of the 2009-10 season before giving way to Antti Niemi during the run to the Stanley Cup championship, played four seasons in the Swiss League prior to joining the Los Angeles Kings during the 2002-03 season.
The Hawks have been trying to find a taker for Huet to clear his $5.625 million salary-cap hit off the books and a one-year agreement to loan him to Gotteron would do the trick. The Hawks would still have to pay Huet's salary, but it wouldn't count against the NHL's cap.
Huet was 26-14-4 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .895 save percentage last season with the Hawks, who have signed veteran Marty Turco to a contract to serve as the team's goalie after letting Niemi walk as an unrestricted free agent. Niemi has yet to sign with another team.
Bartlett said Monday that Huet landing in Europe "is probably the leading option right now. Before he can be assigned anywhere we have to finalize the agreement, he has to clear waivers and be assigned over there."
A Swiss news site, "20 Minutes Online," first reported the agreement to loan Huet to Gotteron was completed but Bartlett indicated more work has to be done.
"We still have several things that have to happen before Europe really becomes a final consideration," Bartlett said. "Hopefully sooner rather than later we can make something happen."
And the Swiss season is over by mid April (sooner if the team doesnt advance).He could rejoin the Hawks for the playoffs here.(salary cap not in effect at playoff time)
Really Mike St. A?? Cris was a great playoff goalie with a NHL record of 6-10 with .918 save % and 2.68 GAA?? Look at the stats. The same d-men were in front of him as they were with Antti. While I think Cris is getting the bum's rush out of town (he did win 26 games lsat year), he looked lost in the middle to end of the regular season. No confidence anymore. That makes him a liability in net. Will the team be as good without him and Niemi, we will see in 6 weeks.
I wish Cris well whevever he ends up.
Hey Dylan, nobody's signed Niemi yet cause every team knows he's not worth one-tenth of the salary he's demanding. He's an AHL goalie (at best). He looked good last season only because he had the best time in the world in front of him, and even then he looked like Mike Palmateer on a bad night many times.
You still don't get it, (mike, former chicagoan). Huet was given hardly a chance in the playoffs, and when he did, he performed better than Nik and Anti put together. Not only that, it was very noticeable that the team played much better in front of him. You probably don't understand that though. Niemi looked like a fish out of water too many times and the D bailed him out more times than not. Nikoli, if you ask me, was nothing short of a disaster in the playoffs. In my opinion, the Hawks would be looking for a 3-peat this upcoming season if they would have given Huet the job. You'll see what will happen when leave it up to Turco and Crawford. You'll have games with over 7 goals and the Hawks will come out on the losing end more times than not. Defensively, they're not nearly as strong as they were, and having Huet and Turco's veteran prescence would really help.
Wait wait wait a moment: Are you telling me that Niemi hasn't signed a new deal yet?
If/When Huet leaves, it BEHOOVES the Blackhawks to re-sign Niemi since he was "disappointed" not to be a Hawk again. Talk about a 1/2 punch at Goalie!
Huet was not an elite playoff goalie. Blackhawks gave him so many chances during the year to easily take the position and had to give it to Niemi. Just ask the Caps what they thought about him. Too much money...Hawks know it.
Huet was the best the Hawks have had since Belfour and Hasek era, too bad most of you are brain dead and never realized it. Huet is a playoff goalie, he's proven himself in the past and I'm sure he'll continue to prove me right. You 'typists' are as about as dumb as the Blackhawk management as far as deciding goaltending issues.
Yeah!
From my two friends: Alle & Louia...
The cap hit is one thing, but what about real money? Very few players in the Swiss Elite league are earning in the 400,000 to 500,000 dls bracket (after taxes), so don't expect Fribourg to pay more than 10 pc of Huet's salary.
Herman, Switzerland
There was never any scenario that would have put Huet on the Hawks roster for the 2010-11 season. So anyone suggesting that this move does anything to free up money for roster moves? You just haven't been paying attention. Huet's $5.6 MM salary was already spent long ago to fill out the Hawks roster. There is not suddenly over $5 MM to spend on Niemi or any free agent.
He gone!!
Big Mark, it is two more years. Obviously, the Swiss team doesn't want to take a chance for more than one. The Hawks will still be stuck with his large cap hit in '11-'12 unless he retires or gets loaned out again.
I thought Huet was on contract two more years. Should not Hawks be "loaning him out" two more year then? Maybe I am mistaken.
Agree that Zito tried to play hardball and he lost. The fact that Niemi had "no comment" when he was asked if it was true that he turned down a 3yr/$8M contract spoke volumes to me. That would've been about a $2.3/year cap hit, although we don't know what the structure was like (spread evenly, front or back loaded).
The arbitrator came back with $2.75M, and as others have alluded, he'll be lucky if he gets half of that for one year, and he'll probably have to fight for a starting job. That s*cks for a goalie that won a Cup, but they played their cards, got greedy and it bit him.
I'll always appreciate what he did to help the 'Hawks win the Cup, but I don't feel bad for him. Turco will be serviceable. The 'Hawks won't repeat this year, but the Cap makes that difficult anyway.
The 'Hawks still have a core that most teams would die for.
This has nothing to do with Niemi. I'm sure Zito, Niemi's agent, is trying to save face, as he played hardball with the Hawks, and didn't understand the goalie market. He's trying to find a suitor for Neimi in the NHL, and at this point, he's lucky to get a one year deal at a low base to split time.
Sorry to break it to everyone, but Niemi is gone. And no, they don't need him back desperately. Turco is still a good goalie, and has proven it over a much longer career than Niemi. This cap space will just to improve the forwards
Niemi is not coming back. You obviously follow the Hawks real closely, Rod.
wheeeooooooaaaaaaay!
Beats playing in Rockford.
Good luck, Huet.
Use the money to sign Lee Stempniak or Kyle Wellwood.
This has nothing to do with Niemi coming back. The Hawks cap calculations were based on Huet being gone.
Hopefully the Blackhawks are keeping Niemi informed, and that's the reason Niemi hasn't latched on with another team yet. Just as soon as Huet signs on the dotted line, i would hope that the Hawks are hitting the speed dial on their cell phone to Niemi. They need him back desperately.
YEEEEESSSSSSS!!!